Protector for inlets of air-blast generators



pril 7, 1931. F. F. BALUSEK 1,199,144

PROTECTOR FOR INLETS OF AIR BLAST GENERATORS Filed Dec. 30. 1929 gmnntoz924mm I Patented Apr. 7, 1931 UNITED STATES FRANK F. BALUSE K, OFPLAGEIDO JUNCTION, TEXAS PROTECTOR FOR INLETS AIR-BLAST GENERATORSApplication filed December 30, 1929. Serial No. 417,566.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in means forpreventing dust, lint and other foreign particles from entering theinlet of an air blast fan.

One object of the invention is to provide means of the characterdescribed specially applicable to cotton gin machinery and particularlydesigned to prevent dust, dirt and lint from entering the air line whichcarries 1 the ginned cotton to the condenser, to the end that said.dust, dirt and lint will not enter the air line and be mingled with thecotton therein and lower the grade thereof. The improved means is alsoadapted to be used in connection with the current generating fan whichgenerates the current through the air pipes which terminate in the blastnozzles adjacent the gin saws, said nozzles being provided for the wellknown purpose, the device herein described, excluding vthe dirt, lintand other-foreign matter from the air which is not so excluded wouldclog up said nozzles.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the characterdescribed which is of very simple construction, which may be cheaply andeasily produced, and which is very efiicient in use.

With the above and other objects in view this invention has particularrelation to certain novel features of construction, operation andarrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specificationand illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a side view of an air blast fan embodying my invention;

Figure 2 shows a front elevation, partly in section of Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a view partly in section of another modification of theinvention.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals of referencedesignate similar parts in each of the figures and in particular 5 toFigures 1 and 2, the numeral 1 designates the casing, or housing of anair blast fan having the discharge outlet 2 through which the air blastmay be driven into and through the lint flue (not shown) and provided inO a cotton gin to convey the ginned cotton to the condenser. Air passingfrom the outlet 2 may, if desired, be conducted to the blast nozzles ofthe gin saws by any suitable means, as will be understood by the personskilled in the art.

One end of the housing 1 has a long bearing 3, secured thereto in whichthe fan drive shaft 4 rotates. Fixed on this shaft, within thefanhousing, there is a blast fan 5. The shaft 4 is driven by anysuitable means in a direction to generate anair blast out through theoutlet 2 as indicated by the arrow in Figure 2.

The other end of the housing has an air inlet 6, and secured to said endand surrounding and enclosing said inlet there is the cylindricalforaminated screen 7. The outer end 8, of this screen has a centralbearing 9 and there is an extension shaft 10 whose inner end is eitherattached to the shaft 4, as shown in Fig. 2, or runs in a bearing in theadjacent end of the shaft 4, as shown in Figure 3. The outer end ofshaft 10 runs in the bearing 9. Fixed on the shaft 10 is a fan or rotorconsisting of the central hub 11, the radial blades 12 secured to saidhub, the an nular rim 13 secured to the outer ends of the blades, andthe peripheral fins or blades 14 secured to and spaced apart around saidrim.

The blades 12 are similiarly inclined to their common. plane so that thecurrent of air drawn inwardly through inlet 6 by the fan 5 will strikeagainst said blades 12 and rotate themin the modification shown inFigure 3. In the modification shown in Figure 2 the blades 12 will berotated positively from the shaft 4, as the shaft 10 is connected withthe shaft 4. The wide fins or blades 14 revolve with the blades 12.These fins or impeller blades 14 are similarly inclined in a directionopposite to that of the blades 12 so that the fins or blades 14 as theyrevolve will generate currents of air outwardly from the fan housingaround the inlet 6 in a direction parallel with their axis of rotation,as indicated by the arrows 20 in Figure 2.

The dust, dirt and lint in the air in the room where the device islocated is given off from the gin machinery handling the cotton, and thespace or zone around the outside of the inlet 6 of the blast fan isshielded or protected by the outwardly moving air currents around it, sothat said foreign matter in the air given off by the gin machinery isprevented from entering the stream of air, indicated by the arrowsQl,entering the inlet 6. Any particles of dust, dirt or lint reaching saidoutwardly moving current of air is carried off beyond the range of theinwardly moving current. The air in the protected or shielded Zoneimmediately in front of the inlet 6 and blades 12 is thereforecomparatively free from lint, dust and dirt, and consequently the screenwill not be clogged up by the lint collecting on the outer side thereofand the nozzles hereinabove referred to will not be liable to be cloggedby foreign matter in the air, nor dust, dirt or lint carried into theair line of the condenser. It will be noted that the air entering theinlet 6 is drawn therein in such a manner that it is moved inwardly in aconfined stream, the confining influence being an outwardly movingstream of air which prevents the movement of dust and lint, ladened airinto the incoming stream from portions of the atmosphere surrounding theoutgoing stream of air in close proximity to the fair housing 2 andinlet 6 thereof. It will be seen, therefore, that there is a zoneproduced in front of the inlet 6, and in front of the screen 7 when itis employed, into which floating dust, dirt and lint particles aresubstantially excluded, and these floating particles instead of enteringthe incoming stream of air entering the inlet 6 settle in the room at apoint removed from the fan housing and inlet 6. Under these conditionsthe air entering the inlet 6 is derived from a point considerablyremoved from said inlet, at which point the concentration of dust, dirtand lint is not as great as near the fan housing and at which point thefloating dust, dirt and lint particles have been largely removed bytheir own sedimentation in the quieter air of the room removed from thefan housing.

In the modification shown in Figure 3, the protecting. screen 7 isomitted, and the outer central bearing 9 supported by a frame 15. Inthis modification, the air entering the inlet 6 of the fan casing willcause the blades 12 and 14 to be rotated, producing the two oppositelydirected air currents previously described, and the shaft 10 to bepushed inwardly into its bearing in the shaft 4 and against the end ofsaid bearing, whereby the shaft 10 will receive also rotary motion fromthe shaft 4:- When the portion of the shaft 10 fitting within thebearing in the shaft t is made longandthe weight of the blades 12 and14: and rim 18 is not too great, the outer central bearing 9 in bothmodifications may be omitted.

lVhile I have shown what I now consider to be preferred forms of theinvention, it is clear that mechanical changes may be made therein andequivalents substituted for the parts shown, and I hereby reserve theright to make such mechanical changes and substitutions as may be founddesirable and such as may be comprehended within the scope of theappended claims.

The present application is a continuation in part of my copendingapplication Ser. No. 250.436, filed January 30, 1928.

lVhat I claim is:

1. The combination with a housing having an inlet opening and adischarge outlet, an air current generator in the housing effective tocreate a current inwardly through said opening and out through saidoutlet, a hoodlike screen fastened to the out-side of the housing andsurrounding said opening, a fan within said screen including radialblades correspondingly inclined, in one direction, to their commonplane, and peripheral fins correspondingly inclined in the otherdirection.

2. The combination with a housing having an inlet and an outlet, an aircurrent generator in said housing effective to create a current inwardlythrough said inlet, and

means associated with said inlet effective to create an air currentcounter to and around said inwardly moving current for forming a lateralair shield for said inwardly moving current for preventing dust, dirt,or lint from entering the inwardly moving current.

3. The combination with an air current generator effective to create anair current toward said generator, of means associated with saidgenerator effective to create an air current counter to the currentcreated by said generator for forming a lateral air shield for the saidair current moving towards said generator for preventing dust, dirt orlint from entering the air current moving to the generator.

4. The combination with an air current generator effective to create anair current toward said generator, of means associated with saidgenerator effective to create an air current counter to and around thecurrent created by said generator for forming a lateral air shield forthe said air current moving towards said generator for preventing dust,dirt or lint from entering the air current movin g to the generator.

5. The combination with a housing having an inlet and an outlet, an aircurrent generator in said housing effective to create a current inwardlytowards said inlet, a rotor positioned before said inlet having radialblades adapted to be rotated, and blades on said rotor disposed aboutand extending radially beyond said radial blades adapted to produce acurrent outwardly around said inlet for forming a lateral air shield forsaid inwardly moving current for preventing dust, dirt or lint fromentering said inwardly moving current.

6. The combination with an inlet of an air current generator efiectiveto create an air current inwardly through said inlet, a rotor positionedfor rotation before the said inlet, said rotor comprising a plurality ofinclined radially disposed blades, and a plurality of rotatable bladesdisposed about and extending radially beyond said radially disposedblades and inclined oppositely to said radially disposed blades toproduce an outwardly moving current forming a lateral air shield'forsaid inwardly moving current for preventing dust, dirt or lint fromentering the inwardly moving current.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FRANK F. BALUSEK.

